Date: Monday, April 23, 2001 9:51 PM Subject: Final Briefing

Greetings,

Sorry this is a day late... my life is busier than usual.

After Cathrin finishes lecturing, several apprentices mill about asking questions. Some want to know if they can get their hands on some blunt weapons -- Cathrin points them towards the Armoury. Blackhawk, Hardblood, and most of the Foxes appear to be having an animated discussion about which traps might be most effective in this case.

Red Squad starts to congregate around the Rogue with the red sash over his shoulder.

"All right cutter's! Hew over to me, and let's start this dance!" The Rogue looks familiar... he's not a completely bad looking sort, but there is something odd about his face... no doubt some non-human blood back in the branches of his family tree, if you know what I mean.

"Now then. M'name is Fizzgig. Yeh have the du-bi-ous joy of be-in my charges for t'nite's festivities. I assure you my pleasure at the prospect is at least double wat yeh might be experiencing right now."

Oh... you've heard of THIS guy. They say he stole the toe of a god -- whatever the hell that means, and he's got more money than he'll ever spend. Not that he doesn't make a valiant effort in the taverns and festhalls of the city. The Dueling Societies in Carzala claim that he's a coward, because he will accept any amount of insult and walk away, but those who pay attention to the small details say that no one has ever survived dueling him.

He doesn't present himself as much, tho. It'd be nice if he smiled. His odd accent drops away, and now he's talking a very neutral Common. "Listen up. I haven't met an apprentice yet who will listen to sensible advice, and I don't expect that to change tonight... but I will clue you in to some basic realities."

"I WILL NOT be fighting with you tonight. At least, you'd better hope it turns out that way. Ya see, it's not the skeletons and zombies the Masters are worrying themselves about -- you all have a pretty good shot of cleaning the floor with them. No, they're afraid that something big and nasty, something like a Spectre or a Vampire will come along, and gobble you all up like roasted chestnuts."

"I -- on the other hand -- will make a bit less tender meal for such critters. I'll be waiting on the rooftops, and if I spy one of the scary ones I'll deal with him personally."

"The only other way you'll be seeing me is if the Masters have screwed the pooch, and misjudged the timing. If I think we're about to be overrun, and I don't see you guys falling back, I'll come down there in person and kick your asses back to the bridge And I'll brook no guff at that point... I'll slice you up so thoroughly that those undead won't even BOTHER trying to animate you. If you come away with nothing else from this little lecture, you need to be far more scared of me than them."

"The only signal you have to make to me is if you spot something scarier than a stock skeleton or zombie. Whistle three times, like this: <demonstrates>. I'll get around to you as soon as circumstances permit."

"Now... let's review."

"Go sleep or meditate or whatever. When you hear the Guild gongs sound, get your butts down to the courtyard. That'll be 'bout an hour before sunset."

"At the signal, move at a fast march to the plaza with the fountain southwest of the bridge. Keep watching all three approaches, and at the FIRST sight of an undead, withdraw to the point marked "A" on the map."

"Keep a tight seal... don't let them get by, or you're fried. When they are starting to mass in front of you, you must pull ALL THE WAY BACK to point "B". Don't be slow about this... some of these undead can move faster than you think, and they'll cream you if they can encircle you. That park is gonna fill up with undead in a thrice."

"It'd be nice and everything and we'd no doubt appreciate it mightily, but Do Not Try To Win This One Yourself. Got it? You are NOT strong enough to take them all, however well you might be doing, and the whole freaking point is to make the undead think they're gaining ground against us, so they'll push forward into our trap. You're just there to provide a little blockage so they pile up in a tight little group before rushing forward to their collective destruction." "If you do that, and buy us a little time.... good. If you are resourceful enough to set off a flare each time they make you fall back.... even better. That'll make tracking the battle a cinch from any high vantage point." "And -- of course -- if you manage to kill a skeleton or twenty, you'll be improving your reputation (with me at least) in ways that I can hardly imagine from our brief contact."

"When you fall back to the bridge, hit the gong and then hold the line while White and Blue escapes behind you... and then retreat yourself."

"At the end of the bridge, injured people move left (quickly!). Everybody else run full tilt up the street until you get to the Church. Run inside."

"Wear your baldrics! I'll see you there! Gotta go! Yada yada...."

He starts to stride away -- but pauses for a moment next to Raven. "Hey there, Ravengirly. Sorry about your father. He was the finest tenor I ever heard, and done me a favor or two in his time."

Just as quickly he walks briskly away... but tosses some sort of bundle over his shoulder at Raven. Something glass or ceramic, wrapped up in an old tunic. She barely catches it.

You hear him say, "Maybe that'll even the score. ...n't imagine .... nancy-boy Delphineus needing ... the closest he'll get to the fighting is watching the first year's cheering the others....."

See you all at Victor's! I'll be there at 7:30 -- the fun starts at 8!